Nicholls plotting new Noland plan after Newbury abandoned
The champion trainer had hoped to give the seven-year-old his first outing since he won the 2006 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in the Pheasant Inn Novices’ Chase at the Berkshire track.
However, as the meeting has been abandoned due to waterlogging, Nicholls now has to look through the programme book for an alternative.
“We’ll find a novice chase for him as soon as we can. There’s nothing set in stone and the ground’s obviously bad at the moment as well,” Nicholls told Teletext. “We’ll just wait and I’ll look through the programme book and see what I can come up with.
“He’ll have loads of entries and run somewhere, but I haven’t made up my mind yet.”
Noland is prominent in the betting for the Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival and is a best-priced 16-1 with Coral even though he has yet to jump a fence in public.
Howard Johnson meanwhile has still to finalise riding plans for Inglis Drever in the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on January 26.
Johnson’s arrangements were thrown into disarray when retained jockey Denis O’Regan was banned for 14 days after he rode his finish a circuit too soon at Fakenham on Monday.
However, with Cheltenham taking centre stage on the day of the race, Johnson hopes some of the top pilots around will be available.
“I haven’t given it much thought to be honest,” said Johnson.
“A few people have rung up about it but there is nothing in concrete, it’s a fortnight away yet.
“It’s not pressing at the moment. I’ll just get the best available but that’s if it’s on the way this weather is, it’s terrible.
“Cheltenham is the main meeting so maybe the likes of Paul Carberry and Barry Geraghty will be over.
“AP McCoy has won on him but he’s out injured. One thing about Inglis Drever though is that he likes a new jockey – he’s had a few!
“He likes a change but I’ll definitely get the best one I can.”
Tidal Bay came through his latest gallop with flying colours but may miss his engagements this weekend because of the likely testing ground.
The favourite for both the Arkle and the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival was due to be brought back in distance to two miles and a furlong for the Montpellier Group Lightning Novices’ Chase at Ascot.
However, with many tracks hit by the current wet spell, Johnson has still to make up his mind.
“Tidal Bay is entered up this weekend but I don’t know if I dare run him on this ground, I’m stuck,” he said. “He had a right good blow out this morning with a jockey on but he said ’what have we to do’ because he’s bursting for a run.
“The idea was to go to Ascot but I don’t know what to do, I’ll have to do my homework.”
